THE ASSOCIATION FOR CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION, INC. (ACPE) HIRES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. (ACPE) is pleased to announce its new Executive Director Trace Haythorn.  He will be joining ACPE on October 28.

Dr. Haythorn earned a Ph.D. in cultural foundations of education from Syracuse University, a master’s of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of arts in psychology and business from Austin College. He began his career by completing eight units of Clinical Pastoral Education: one in Denver, CO; four in Dallas, TX; and three in Philadelphia, PA, all in hospital settings. He is currently working with first-year students at the Candler School of Theology. 

In 2012, he was awarded a full scholarship to the Harvard Business School’s “Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management” Executive Education Program. In 2009, he served as a Fellow at Stanford University’s Center for Social Innovation. He is a contributing editor to The Journal of Religion, Disability and Health and has served as a member of the advisory board for NPR’s “This I Believe” series.

A native of Texas, Dr. Haythorn has served as Executive Director of The Frazer Center and as President of the Fund for Theological Education (FTE), Atlanta, Georgia; Protestant Chaplain for Nazareth College, Rochester, New York; Associate Pastor for Adult Education, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee; Assistant Professor of Religion, Hastings, Nebraska; and co-pastor, Toorak Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.  After joining the Hastings College faculty in 2003 as assistant professor of religion, Dr. Haythorn created the college’s Center for Servant Leadership, which encourages students to serve as catalysts for change and builders of sustainable communities.

ACPE President Robin Brown-Haithco said, “We are excited to have Trace join us in the position of Executive Director.  His non-profit and fund development experience will serve our Association well as we move forward with our 2020 Strategic Plan.”

Dr. Haythorn serves as a member of Atlanta Rotary, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities Real Communities Initiating Group, and the Operations Committee of the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. He is also past co-president of the Friends of L’Arche Atlanta.

Dr. Haythorn is married to the Reverend Mary Anona Stoops; they are the parents of two children, Jacob (17) and Martha (13).  Trace’s family lives in Decatur where both children attend Decatur public schools.

About the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) 

The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) is a multicultural, multi-faith organization devoted to providing education and improving the quality of ministry and pastoral care offered by spiritual caregivers of all faiths through the clinical educational methods of clinical pastoral education.  The ACPE is nationally recognized as an accrediting agency in the field of clinical pastoral education by the U.S. Department of Education and accredits more than 450 training centers throughout the country.  The ACPE also certifies over 700 CPE Supervisors (educators).  Visit www.acpe.edu to learn more.